Another birthday in the house! Ashley turns 9 today! It’s hard to believe she could be that big either. Nine years ago, we also arrived at the hospital early in the morning. Ashley was a special baby – she decided that coming into the world head down is what other kids do, but not her. On April 1st of that year(nice date, huh?), I was sent for an ultrasound that confirmed that Ashley was sitting nice as you please in an upright position. She would not be coming into the world the usual way. Oh no, the doctor was going to have to go in after her. So we checked in on April 13th. At 9:37AM, a teeny little tushy was pulled into the world. Yes, the first part of Ashley we ever saw was her backside! She mooned the world! Too many drugs and too many hours later, I actually got to see more of her. Then Gramma came with 3 year old Kayla to meet her new baby sister. April 13th, 2004 was a chilly day but good. Today is much the same. It can’t decide between sun and flurries! I remember when Ashley and I were released to go home. The temp had climbed to over 70 degrees, and Kevin had to bring me lighter weight clothes because I had packed when it was on the 40’s. 

Now, we have our 9 year old! She plays piano like a champ, she just started taking a karate class with the park district, and she has really taken a liking to drawing.  She was so proud that she was asked to take a special math contest test at school. She can’t seem to stand having socks on her feet and will run around the house with bare feet even in winter. She is more into sparkly fashionable things than Kayla, and she does not like skirts without some kind of shorts underneath – no tights! She is our girl who will refuse to do something new, like learn to ride a bike. Then one day, she decides she wants to do it and just does. She loves her Gizmo and is currently on a campaign to convince us that we need a dog (she even checked out a library book on caring for dogs!). She loves Taylor Swift music, and so she just adores the new iPod that Aunt Tiffanie sent along!

Some pictures! The first one is from Wednesday night. Ashley had missed her first karate class last Saturday, so she had to go to a Wednesday night make-up class, her first class! Cracks me up that her instructor is on his knees and still as tall!

These are from this morning – birthday girl in the jaguar jammies! She is eating one of her favorite things – Nutella toast with bananas!

Later this evening, 4 little girls are coming over. They are going to play, then have hot dogs chunks wrapped in crescent dough for dinner, along with puffy Cheetos. Ashley also wanted cookie dough truffles rather than a cake. Then I have these cool nail sticker things from 5 Below. You cut them to fit your nail, and then press them on. They are nail polish, and you need remover to get them off, but they come in cool patterns like zebra stripes. So all 5 little girls are getting crazy nails – no dry time! While I do nails, they plan to watch Wreck-It Ralph. But then the 4 little girls go home around 9PM. It should be a tiring and fun evening for Ashley! Hopefully, I can get some more pictures later of just Ashley.

Now we go into the super busy time of year. Band practices, concerts, piano recitals, dance shows, last days of school – it’s pretty packed! And a cousin visit in just a couple of weeks!